The body of a man in his 30s who fell into an open storm-water drain has been found.
He allegedly fell into a storm-water drain close to the bridge near Hoërskool Riebeeckrand shortly after a storm hit Randfontein on Thursday 17 December. The man’s friends suspect he had dropped something in the storm-water drain and slipped.
Randfontein Police as well as Disaster Management were on the scene and continued searching until late that evening without any success.
The body of Thys Williams, 32, was found at Riebeeck Lake around 3.30pm three days later. The deceased was swept away in the storm-water system during the flash-flood.
“During the search police divers and the K9 search unit kept a close watch on the lake since the victim could not be found in the system. The Randfontein Station Commander Brigadier Manamela was at the scene. He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family members who also was at the scene. This tragic event should serve as a warning to all not to access the drainage system for any reason,” said Captain Appel Ernst, Randfontein Police spokesperson.
This was the first of two water related deaths during the December period in Randfontein. The second victim was Matthew Olivier, 5, whose body was found in the water near his grandparents property in Groenplaas.
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Also read:
Storm-water drain swallows man
Video: Boy, 5, goes missing after Christmas
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